Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter is part of what Reese’s Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy calls the deepest running back class for the NFL draft in several years, but Hunter is used to being in elite company.

Hunter finished his four-year college career with 3,371 rushing yards, fourth in Auburn history behind certified program legends Bo Jackson (4,303), Cadillac Williams (3,831) and James Brooks (3,523). The 5-foot-10, 202-pound Hunter was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2024, when he ran for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

“It’s very special to me that I could be named as one of the top rushers in Auburn history,” Hunter said Monday while meeting with Mobile-area media to preview the upcoming Senior Bowl. “It was some great men before me like Bo Jackson, Cadillac, Ronnie Brown, all them good running backs that they had before me. It’s just a special accomplishment … that I did while I was at Auburn.”

Hunter is one of 15 running backs on the preliminary roster for the Senior Bowl, which takes place Feb. 1 at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama. Also on the list are Georgia’s Trevor Etienne, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon, Michigan’s Donovan Edwards, SMU’s Brashard Smith, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, USC’s Jo’quavious Marks and Arizona State’s Cameron Skattebo, among others.

But Nagy is particularly high on Hunter, who split time with Tank Bigsby his first two years at Auburn before becoming the feature back in 2023. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry in his career and also caught 68 passes.

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“He feels like a really, even in our state, kind of an underrated guy for the career he’s had,” Nagy said. “Being from Mississippi, he’s somewhat local for us, so excited to get Jarquez down here. My people up there love this guy. Just a small-town Mississippi kid, all about football, so excited to get him down here. A really hard runner, one of my favorites.

“… The running back group is the best running back group that the NFL has seen in a draft in a while, top to bottom. It’s really good.”

Hunter is one of three Auburn players in the Senior Bowl, along with linebackers Eugene Asante and Jalen McLeod. As many NFL hopefuls do, he has spent the last two weeks training at EXOS Sports Performance Training in nearby Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Whether at Auburn or in the lead-up to the Senior Bowl, brushes with greatness are nothing new for Hunter. He hails from Philadelphia, Miss., also the hometown of high school football running back legend Marcus DuPree, who happens to be a distant cousin.

“I’ve always been around him,” Hunter said of DuPree. “Growing up, he gave me tips and stuff through high school. We always hung out, talked football. He taught me a lot of stuff. Sometimes we used to go to camps together because me and his grandson are around the same age. … It feels special to know one of the greatest high school football players there was.”

Kickoff for the 2025 Senior Bowl is set for 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, with television coverage on NFL Network Tickets are available at seniorbowl.com/tickets.

Senior Bowl 2025 game week schedule

Monday, Jan. 27

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rally, Cottage Hill Baptist Church, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 28

Senior Bowl practices (open to public)

National team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

American team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, noon-2 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

Senior Bowl practices (open to public)

National team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

American team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, noon-2 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 30

Senior Bowl practices (open to public)

National team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

American team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, noon-2 p.m.

USA Health Doc Rock, Soul Kitchen, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 31

Saints Cheer Krewe clinic, Jaguar Training Center, noon-3 p.m.

— open to high school-aged cheerleaders and dancers

— cost, $75

Friday Night Street Party (Downtown Mobile)

— Player parade, 6 p.m.

— Free concert featuring Eli Young Band & Sammy Kershaw, Cathedral Square, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 1

Senior Bowl Fan Fest (free), South Lawn of Hancock Whitney Stadium, 10:30 a.m.

Legacy Tailgate HBCU Experience (free), South end of Jaguar Training Center, 10:30 a.m.

Path to the Draft players walk, outside Hancock Whitney Stadium, 11 a.m.

Senior Bowl game, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 1:30 p.m.

— performances by Jaguar Marching Band & Saints Cheer Krewe